HOW TO – Make a fast action NERF rifle…
This look really fun, and really scary, but it’s NERF, so it’s probably OK. “The FAR is a magazine fed spring powered rifle capable of firing Nerf darts in rapid succession. It uses a fast-action bolt system. This means that all that needs to be done to cycle the weapon is to rack the bolt back and release. The rifle is fed by a bottom feed detachable magazine that holds 5 rounds. The design of the FAR permits it to be fully disassembled and all components accessed for repair or replacement. Only a philips head screwdriver and a pair of hands are required for field stripping.” [via] Link.
Joel writes in with an awesome new LEGO blog…“Nextbrick, a just-started blog about construction toys with a heavy emphasis on Lego. There are just a handful of posts up at the moment, but enough that you should be able to get an idea of what we’re aiming for–short, fun blips from the world of Lego, two or three times a day.” 
Rheslip made his own CNC machine – “I looked at a bunch of designs and decided to try a fairly simple 3 axis machine as my first effort. The idea was to use a Dremel tool for the cutting head and use the machine to engrave aluminum front panels for my guitar amps. As it turned out the machine isn’t accurate or rigid enough for that. A dremel just has too much slop in the bearings for accurate machining. The machine will do a reasonable job machining soft materials like plastic and soft woods, and it does quite a good job of plotting PCBs. I haven’t tried drilling PCBs yet but I’m pretty sure it’ll handle that too.” Thanks Star! 
Richard writes “Here’s how to make a gas forge cheap from a large tube and an old hoover vac. See other examples of cast bronze I’ve created with this “flying turtle” forge, also how to create a nail gun from an old fire extinguisher. The techniques and tools illustrated and their application to the handmade object are as valuable to the modern foundryman as they were to his “Holistic” forefathers of the late 1800s.” Lots of plans, how-tos and projects.